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Tags Posts tagged with "PA Office of Developmental Programs"

PA Office of Developmental Programs

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announced that all SCOs and Providers delivering supports and services for participants in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) program must submit their primary and secondary contact information for the ODP Quality Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) Process by close of business on April 15, 2019.

Beginning July 1, 2019, the Bureau of Autism Services (BAS) will begin the QA&I process for all AAW SCOs and Providers. This process will make the AAW SCO Monitoring and Provider Monitoring processes obsolete as of June 30, 2019.

BAS is requesting that all SCOs and Providers identify a primary and secondary contact person(s). The identified contact person(s) are the individual(s) who the entity has assigned to receive specific information related to the QA&I Process including any unique electronic links, access to QA&I process specific information, ongoing direction and communication from ODP regarding the QA&I Process, etc.

All SCOs and Providers must submit their information by close of business on April 15, 2019.

DP Communication 19-039 contains more detailed information regarding this process. Questions about this communication should be emailed here.

ODP Announcement 19-038 provides information to register for the Initial Certified Investigator Courses through 2019 and for the Certified Investigator Peer Review Course for Spring 2019.

The Initial Certification Course is a four-day, face-to-face module that was created to ensure all incidents that require an investigation, receive a systematic investigation that meets established standards. In order to perform investigations, the investigator must successfully complete all requirements under the ODP CI Training. The Initial Certification Course consists of three parts:

1. Online Prerequisite course
2. 4 days of face-to-face training
3. Online exam

Once all activities are completed within the current standards, the participant will be certified for 3 years. Register here for the Initial Certified Investigator courses and to obtain certification.

The Peer Review Course was created to support the Peer Review Process. The Peer Review Process is an ongoing evaluation process that is designed to provide information about the overall quality of incident investigations to an organization. The primary objective of the Peer Review Process is to ensure a continued quality improvement of investigatory practices. To support ODP stakeholders in the implementation of the Peer Review practices, ODP along with Temple University has created a Peer Review Course. The Peer Review Course is a 3½-hour, face-to-face training. Register here for the Certified Investigator Peer Review course.

For assistance with registration, please contact [email protected].
For questions regarding the course or its topic, please contact [email protected].

ODP published Announcement 19-032 to announce that all Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) and Providers delivering supports and services for participants in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) program will be integrated into the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) QA&I process beginning July 1, 2019. The QA&I process will replace the existing AAW monitoring process and will be one of the tools used to evaluate the current system of supports and identify ways to improve it for all individuals supported by ODP.

The QA&I process was first introduced in July 2017 with ODP’s ID/A Waiver programs. The process is designed to conduct a comprehensive quality management review of county programs, Administrative Entities, SCOs, and Providers delivering services and supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

The comprehensive quality management review is accomplished using a combination of self-assessment, desk review, onsite review, individual interviews, corrective action, Plan to Prevent Recurrence and quality management plans. The QA&I process occurs over a three-year cycle with each of the entities receiving a full review at least once within that period.

To support this integration, ODP will provide QA&I process training for SCOs and Providers serving AAW participants in the spring of 2019. Look for a date, time, and any specific instructions for this training in a future communication.

For more information about the QA&I process, please visit “QA&I Process Resources” on MyODP. Please submit any questions regarding this communication to Patrick Keating.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) offers participant direction, also known as self-direction, to provide participants with a high level of choice and control over their services and supports in the ID/A waivers. In ODP’s self-direction models, the participant directs the provision of waiver services provided by Support Service Professionals, who are known as Direct Support Professionals in the Adult Autism Waiver. Support Service Professionals are the person(s) who will be hired to provide waiver services to the participant.

Participants can take advantage of self-direction opportunities through the utilization of a Financial Management Service (FMS) Organization. Participants who wish to self-direct services may do so though one of two FMS models: Agency with Choice or Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent.

Since participant-directed services models are not available in the Adult Autism Waiver, ODP included a reserved capacity category called Participant Direction Transfers in the ID/A waiver amendments effective November 1, 2018. Each waiver reserves 5 spaces each year (for a total of 15 per year) for individuals who wish to self-direct the majority of their waiver services but are enrolled in the Adult Autism Waiver.

To begin implementation of this reserved capacity, each participant in the Adult Autism Waiver will receive a letter and a flyer from ODP announcing the availability of this reserved capacity and providing information about participant-directed services. Since there are only 5 spaces available per year in each of the ID/A waivers, the Adult Autism Waiver Supports Coordinator will need to have a discussion with each person enrolled in the Adult Autism Waiver at the first regularly scheduled meeting or monitoring to determine if he or she is interested in self-directing the majority of their waiver services and enrolling in one of the ID/A waivers. Detailed information about this process can be found in ODP Announcement 19- 036. Also see Attachment #1, Attachment #2, and Attachment #3 to the announcement.

Registration is open for a free statewide professional training: Succeeding in an Environment of Change: Exploring the Evolving Dynamic of the Adult Autism Waiver by the Office of Developmental Programs, Bureau of Autism Services (ODP/BAS). The trainings will be held in April and May, and detailed information, such as dates and locations, can be found in ODP Announcement 19-027.

In an environment of constant change, Supports Coordinators (SCs) and Supports Coordination Supervisors (SCSs) must be flexible and aware of available resources and support available to help them optimally perform their roles. This training session will focus on the impact key changes, such as new regulations and BAS policy changes, have on the roles and responsibilities of SCs and SCSs. Questions about this announcement can be sent via email.

ODP Announcement 19-034 clarifies requirements regarding the number of individuals that can be served in a licensed Adult Training Facility (55 Pa. Code Chapter 2380) or a licensed Vocational Facility (55 Pa. Code Chapter 2390). This communication contains requirements that apply to new licensed Adult Training Facilities and Vocational Facilities as well as relocations of these facilities.

The Community Participation Support service definition in the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers, as well as the Day Habilitation service definition in the Adult Autism Waiver, state that services may not be provided in a licensed facility that is newly funded on or after March 17, 2019 and serves more than 25 individuals in the facility at any one time. This number includes individuals who receive services funded through a source other than the waivers included in this communication; such as private pay, base funding, Community Health Choices, etc. Due to the delay in the publication of the 55 Pa. Code Chapter 6100 regulations, this requirement is being delayed to July 1, 2019. For the purposes of this requirement, from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, only new licensed Adult Training Facilities and Vocational Facilities will be considered “newly funded.”

Effective January 1, 2022, relocations (facilities that are currently licensed to operate at one physical site that subsequently move to a new physical site) will be considered “newly funded” and will have to meet the requirement to serve no more than 25 individuals at any one time in a licensed setting.

From now until December 31, 2021, licensed Adult Training Facilities and Vocational Facilities that relocate an existing service location to a new service location, who intend to serve more than 25 individuals at any one time in the new location, must submit justification to ODP regarding the request to serve a larger number of individuals (submitted to the ODP staff on Attachment 1). The information required includes:

  • Explanation why the provider cannot relocate and/or reconfigure their business model to comply with the requirement to serve no more than 25 individuals at any one time.
  • Information about how much time individuals receiving Community Participation Support and/or Day Habilitation services are spending in the current facility and target dates for increasing time in the community in the new location. The expectation is that providers should be looking for new service locations that promote more community participation and integration in the individuals’ communities. This may mean that the provider should be considering locations in multiple communities to support those they serve.
  • The number of individuals currently served in the licensed setting at any one time, as well as assurance that the provider will not exceed this number after the relocation occurs. Providers are not to relocate to new licensed settings to increase the number of people they can serve in that setting.

ODP staff will inform the provider of whether the relocation is approved or denied for the purpose of being eligible for funding through an ODP Waiver.

Also, effective January 1, 2022, Community Participation Support and Day Habilitation services may not be provided in any licensed Adult Training Facility or Vocational Facility that serves more than 150 individuals at any one time. This number includes individuals who receive services funded through a source other than the waivers included in this communication.

Questions about this communication should be emailed here.

ODP Announcement 19-033 serves to distribute the 2017–2018 Annual Data Report, detailing enrollment, self-directed services, employment, residential, targeted services management, and financial trends so that individuals, families, advocates, providers, government officials, and taxpayers can see and measure how many individuals ODP serves, what services are provided, where the individuals live, and what costs are associated with services. The 2017–2018 Annual Data Report is also available on the MyODP Everyday Lives Publications web page.

The 2017–2018 Annual Data Report is a good companion to the annual report published on the performance measures developed by ODP’s Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC), entitled Everyday Lives: Values in Action Information, Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Recommendations, Strategies, and Performance Measures. This publication is available on the MyODP Everyday Lives Publications web page.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please submit via email.

Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) issued ODP Announcement 19-030 last week (3/11/2019). The Attachment #1 was reissued the following day with corrections.

The previous Attachment 1 was improperly named and did not reflect FY 2019–2020. Please use the updated Attachment 1 – New CPS Service FY 2019–2020.

ODP offers this guidance for creating 2019–2020 FY Renewal Plans. The guidance discusses numerous service changes that impact 2019–2020 Fiscal Year renewals. Also, the related attachment discusses new Community Participation Support (CPS) services effective July 1, 2019. Contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with questions.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) / Bureau of Autism Services (BAS) has announced free statewide professional training: Being An Informed Supporter: What You Should Know About Autism in ODP Announcement 19-026. The training is being offered on four dates in April and May at different locations. There is no cost to attend; however, pre-registration is required.

The following areas will be addressed: social skills, challenging behavior & mental health, employment, family services, community engagement, and communication. Presenters will provide attendees with tools and strategies that will enhance the support for individuals in their homes, communities, jobs, and schools.

Register for the seminar here. For more information, submit questions via email.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) communication 19-029 announces that the Certified Investigation Training Programs Vendor, Temple University of Harrisburg, has established a Quality Investigation Unit (QIU). This unit will be conducting Certified Investigation Peer Reviews (CIPRs) of investigations completed by department certified investigators.

The QIU will be involved in several activities:

  • Complete CIPR for a sample of investigations;
  • Complete ad hoc CIPR upon request;
  • Provide education and consultation regarding the CIPR process; and
  • Provide technical assistance upon request.

The QIU will notify the entity when an investigation has been selected for review and detail the process to securely send case files electronically. Once the CIPR is completed, the QIU will provide feedback regarding the investigation review to the entity and will answer any questions. The results will also be shared with ODP.

For information regarding how to request a CIPR, visit the ODP website under Peer Review Requests.